Article A11 · Book 1 · Scrapbook page p.11
Cedros wins major victory / Protest mas goes on
Protest mas goes on
SIR :— As a resident of Cedros I have followed with keen interest the events of the past few weeks there, especially the news of the protest mas, "Our Neglected Cedros," which hits the streets of Port-of-Spain on Carnival Monday.
It was especially fortunate for Cedros that events took the turn that they did. The drama and sensation of the first news that an R.C. priest was 'playing mas' turned the spotlight on Cedros.
Correspondent Nazim Ali did the rest. Patiently, he documented the whole story of neglect and decay.
The result is that Cedros has already won a major victory. There is much sympathy and support for the band from the country as a whole and sometimes from unexpected quarters e.g. A PNM Senator has given his full support.
Difficult to understand, however, is the attitude of the Member of Parliament for the area Mr. Richardson. He condemns the demonstration, while at the same time we read in his party's paper, 'The Nation,' of January 23, 1970, "Peaceful demonstrations are perfectly in order," says Dr. Williams.
Mr. Richardson also, charges that the demonstration has 'political overtones.'
The demonstration not only has 'political overtones, it is politics. Any form of intercourse between a Government and its people is politics, and why shouldn't it have 'political overtones?' Does Mr. Richardson have a monopoly to politics in the place?
In classical tradition, Mr. Richardson has stated how the problems of Cedros are being solved "it is being discussed at the highest level, we will see what can be done, that is on the Five Year Development Programme," etc., etc.
Meanwhile the people of Cedros must continue to wait.
I think Mr. Richardson has made a grave political blunder by turning the issue into a fight between himself and his constituents, and he has thrown away a golden opportunity of really doing something for Cedros.
His promises that the fishing complex would solve all problems was the same he made years ago about the tyre factory. We know the result. The tyre factory is there and the problems are there, too, only tyres are dearer than before.
He boasted that the steel plant was to be sited at Point Fortin. He hasn't explained why it has gone to Point Lisas now. All this proves that the demonstration was necessary.
Mr. Richardson must recognise that a new dimension has been added to politics in Trinidad, one that is here to stay. In the meantime nothing can break up the band now. "Vive la Cedros."
R. O. Thackoorie.